With no settlement in sight, strike action planned for Christmas Eve by the RMT union will cause severe disruption to train services, with passengers advised not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

In general, trains will finish around 3.00pm but there will be wide regional variations, both earlier and later. Some last trains of the day, especially for longer journeys, will depart in the morning, whilst some places see no services at all.

Timetables for services on Christmas Eve will be published tomorrow, Tuesday, 20th December. However, further industrial action will impact on some train operators who will be unable to run any services at all on Christmas Eve, with further disruption between Christmas and New Year.

Because of the RMT strike action, there will be no services in those few places that normally see services on Boxing Day. Also, with strike action continuing to 6am on 27th December, services that day will start later, typically between 9am and 12pm.

Customers with Advance, Anytime, or Off-Peak tickets issued for travel on a strike day can instead use their ticket on an alternative date or obtain a refund.

At the moment, the last trains to and from London on Christmas Eve are scheduled to depart at the following times:

From London

• Edinburgh – 11.00am;
• Leeds – 12.03pm;
• Newcastle – 11.00am;
• Birmingham – 1.03pm;
• Manchester – 12.48pm;
• Liverpool – 12.34pm;
• Sheffield – No trains;
• Nottingham – No trains;
• Brighton – 1.59pm;
• Norwich – 2.00pm;
• Glasgow – 12.22pm.

To London

• Edinburgh – 8am;
• Leeds – 10.45am;
• Newcastle – 10.22am;
• Birmingham – 12.33pm;
• Manchester – 12.15pm;
• Liverpool – 11.43am;
• Sheffield – No trains;
• Nottingham – No trains;
• Brighton – 1.39pm;
• Norwich – 1.00pm;
• Glasgow – 10.40am.

Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said: “RMT suggestions that their planned strike action over the festive period is ‘not targeting Christmas’ would be laughable were the consequences not so painful to so many people including on Christmas Eve.

“The RMT is causing needless misery to its own members, to the railway and to the country’s economy.

“I am so sorry that our passengers are having to bear the brunt of the RMT’s needless strike when a fair offer is on the table and when only a third of the workforce have rejected it. Our offer guarantees jobs and gives everyone a decent pay-rise of 9% and more. Two of our three trade unions have already accepted and the RMT needs to think again.”

A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said: “The RMT’s willingness to disrupt people’s travel plans for the first Christmas in three years without Covid restrictions is deeply disappointing. We worked hard to avoid this damaging widespread campaign of industrial action affecting travel during the festive period and we apologise to our customers.

“The RMT overtime ban in place up to 2 January will also affect services and we urge customers to check with the websites and social media of National Rail Enquiries and their train operator.

“We are now focussing on giving passengers the maximum possible certainty so they can make alternative plans if necessary.

“We believe the 8% offer fairly balances the need to make the changes required to improve services and secure the long-term future of the railway with our aspiration to give our people a pay rise.”